American Sign Language: "don't" / "do not" Often students ask me "How do you sign 'don't'?" I always have to ask them what is the rest of the sentence in which they want to use the concept of "don't." The reason I need to know the rest of the sentence is because there isn't just "one" sign for "don't." There are dozens of ways to express the concept of "don't" in ASL. The right sign for "don't" depends on what you mean. Most of the time the concept is "incorporated" into the movement of the sign and the facial expressions or shaking of the head. For example, in the sign "don't understand" you express the concept of "don't" by using a negative headshake: DON'T UNDERSTAND: There is an actual sign for "DON'T." I only use this sign only when I'm trying to make a strong point, or when I'm emphasizing something to a young child. DON'T: The sign "NOT" is quite often used to mean "don't." NOT: The concept of "don't" is incorporated into some signs via reversal of orientation. See: don't want & don't like Also see: "negation" don't-care don't-mind The concept of "don't" can also be expressed by simply shaking your head negatively. See: don't-forget don't-have Want to help support ASL University? It's easy: DONATE (Thanks!) (You don't need a PayPal account. Just look for the credit card logos and click continue.) Another way to help is to buy Dr. Bill's "Superdisk." Dr. Bill's new iPhone "Fingerspelling Practice" app is now available! CHECK IT OUT > Want even more ASL resources? Visit the "ASL Training Center!" (Subscription Extension of ASLU) CHECK IT OUT > Bandwidth slow? Check out "ASLUniversity.com" (a free mirror of Lifeprint.com less traffic, fast access) VISIT > You can learn sign language (ASL) online at American Sign Language University ™ Lifeprint.com © Dr. William Vicars

American Sign Language: "don't" / "do not"

Often students ask me "How do you sign 'don't'?" I always have to ask them what is the rest of the sentence in which they want to use the concept of "don't." The reason I need to know the rest of the sentence is because there isn't just "one" sign for "don't." There are dozens of ways to express the concept of "don't" in ASL. The right sign for "don't" depends on what you mean. Most of the time the concept is "incorporated" into the movement of the sign and the facial expressions or shaking of the head. For example, in the sign "don't understand" you express the concept of "don't" by using a negative headshake:

DON'T UNDERSTAND:

There is an actual sign for "DON'T."

I only use this sign only when I'm trying to make a strong point, or when I'm emphasizing something to a young child.

DON'T:

The sign "NOT" is quite often used to mean "don't."

NOT:

The concept of "don't" is incorporated into some signs via reversal of orientation.
See: don't want & don't like

Also see:
"negation"
don't-care
don't-mind

The concept of "don't" can also be expressed by simply shaking your head negatively.
See:
don't-forget
don't-have

Want to help support ASL University? It's easy: DONATE (Thanks!)
(You don't need a PayPal account. Just look for the credit card logos and click continue.)

Another way to help is to buy Dr. Bill's "Superdisk."

Dr. Bill's new iPhone "Fingerspelling Practice" app is now available! CHECK IT OUT >

Want even more ASL resources? Visit the "ASL Training Center!" (Subscription Extension of ASLU) CHECK IT OUT >

Bandwidth slow? Check out "ASLUniversity.com" (a free mirror of Lifeprint.com less traffic, fast access) VISIT >